The Harder They Come
1972 · Movie · R · 103 min · ★ 6.6 · 83% critics
A young man arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, chasing work and a shot at music stardom, but quickly gets caught in a bitter conflict that leaves him broke. As his music draws attention, he turns to petty crime to survive, building an infamous local reputation along the way.
Also known as Hard Road to Travel · Rhygin
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Details
- Years
- 1972
- Release date
- 1972-08-01
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Critic score
- 83/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.6/10 (124 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a gritty reggae crime drama powered by memorable songs and a raw sense of place; Not for you if you dislike low-budget storytelling or struggle with heavy Jamaican accents like in 8 Mile or Hustle & Flow.
Pros: standout reggae soundtrack; gritty Jamaica atmosphere; strong lead presence | Cons: hard-to-follow patois; uneven acting/plot; some repetitiveness
Themes
- cinema on cinema
- gangster
- disc jockey
- jamaica
- church choir
- reggae
- parish
- recording contract
- record producer
- record label
- murder
- marijuana
- +1 more
Cast & crew
Jimmy Cliff
as Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin
- JB
Janet Bartley
as Elsa
- CB
Carl Bradshaw
as Jose
- RH
Ras Daniel Hartman
as Pedro
- BK
Basil Keane
as Preacher
- BC
Bob Charlton
as Hilton
- WS
Winston Stona
as Detective Ray Jones
- LW
Lucia White
as Mother
- VJ
Volair Johnson
as Pushcart Boy
- BA
Beverly Anderson
as Housewife
Directed by Perry Henzell